Packaging filling apparatus and transversal sealing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A packaging filling apparatus, which can obtain the most suitable sealing quality by an automatic control without checking the condition of the sealing by the operator on a regular basis, is provided. A transversal sealing apparatus 48 of the packaging filling apparatus includes a high-frequency oscillator  1 , controller  2 , and an inductor, which generates a magnet field in packaging material by receiving the output from the high-frequency oscillator, and is provided with a sealing quality control means  4 , which transmits a control signal to the controller, based on a statistical relation between a plurality of effect factors affecting the quality of a transversal sealing  23  and the quality of transversal sealing.

This application is a U.S. national stage entry of PCT/JP04/10718, filedJul. 28, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging filling apparatus forproducing a packaging container, which is filled with a fluid product,such as milk and juice, and a transversal sealing apparatus, which isinstalled therein.

BACKGROUND ART

Formerly, when producing a packaging container filled with liquid foods(including fluid products) such as milk, a web-form packaging materialcomposed of a flexible laminated body is longitudinally sealed to becomea tubular shape, and while being filled with fluid foods, the tubularpackaging material is laterally sealed to produce a packaging container.

An outline of an example of the packaging filling apparatus of thecontainer is shown in FIG. 2. The packaging filling apparatus shown inthe example has a thermoplastic layer such as polyethylene in the insideand outside layers, employing laminated packaging material made ofaluminum foil, paper and the like. A packaging material web 41, which iswound in a roll-fashion, is wound off and conveyed by a roller in thepackaging filling apparatus. A strip tape is spliced to an edge of thepackaging material web by a strip tape applicator 43. The packagingmaterial web passes through a sterilization tank 44 to be sterilized.The sterilizing treatment liquid attached on the surface of thepackaging material is removed by a squeezing roller and air knife 45.

Then, the packaging material is formed into a tubular shape by a formingroller 46. An overlap is formed by superimposing both ends of thepackaging material, and sealing is performed by a longitudinal sealingelement 42 along the longitudinal direction of the tube at the overlapin the longitudinal direction. Into the tube, liquid foods are filledfrom a filling pipe 47. While moving the tube downward by the lengthcorresponding to one packaging container, the tube is sandwiched by asealing jaw of the transversal sealing apparatus 48 of theinduction-heating system and an opposing jaw. A transversal sealing bandis formed by performing transversal sealing in the transverse direction,and at the same time, being continuously formed into a first formingbody 49. The transversal sealing band of the first forming body is cutin the middle by a cutting apparatus (not shown) such as a knife into aseparate first forming body 49 to form the packaging filling containerof a final configuration.

In FIG. 3, a detailed partially sectional view of the transversalsealing apparatus 48 and cutting apparatus 32 are shown. In thisembodiment, while being moved downward by the length corresponding toone packaging container, a tubular packaging material 1, which is filledwith foods, is caught in two pairs of forming flap 31 to be formed intoa rough shape of a container, being sandwiched by two pairs of sealingjaws 48 a and opposing jaw 48 b, forming a transversal sealing band byperforming transversal sealing in the transverse direction, and thesealing band of the connected first forming body being cut off in themiddle by the knife 33 of the cutting apparatus 32 into a separate firstforming body 49.

In the transversal sealing apparatus of an induction-heating system, thepackaging material using, for example, aluminum foil performstransversal sealing by induction heating, utilizing its characteristics.

Patent Document 1, Japanese Patent Laid Open 1995-164523

In the case of transversal sealing by the induction-heating of thepackaging material using aluminum foil, in order to control the qualityof the sealing such as the width of the transversal sealing band,strength of the sealing, the operator checks the condition of thesealing to change the controller of the potentiometer connected with ahigh-frequency oscillator and modifies the output of the same, ifnecessary.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, with the conventional apparatus and method, it is required thatthe operator has to check the condition of the sealing on a regularbasis. That is, in response to the operating condition of the fillingapparatus, a sealing check is regularly performed by the operator, theoutput of the transmitter being adjusted by adjusting the potentiometer,if necessary. Therefore, a skillful labor is required due to thetroublesome operation and because it is difficult to grasp a propercondition until sealing is actually performed. In addition, it isdifficult to cope with a sudden change and a remote operation is notpossible.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a desirable packagingfilling apparatus, which can obtain the most suitable sealing quality byan automatic control without checking the condition of the sealing bythe operator on a regular basis. The purpose of the present invention isto provide a packaging filling apparatus and transversal sealingapparatus, which require no troublesome operation in response tooperational conditions of the filling apparatus, and no skillful laborby easily and automatically grasping a suitable condition until a mostsuitable sealing is performed. The purpose of the present invention isto provide a packaging filling apparatus and transversal sealingapparatus, which can cope with a sudden change and a remote operation ispossible.

The packaging filling apparatus of the present invention ischaracterized in that

a web-form packaging material having a laminated structure and aconductive layer, which is adjacent to a sealing property thermoplasticlayer, is longitudinally sealed to be formed into a tubular shape, afluid product is filled in said tube, a transversal sealing band isformed by performing a transversal sealing by a transversal sealingapparatus in the transverse direction of said tube, which is cut offinto a separate first forming body in said transversal sealing band ofthe first forming body, which is continuously connected and formed, andformed into a packaging and filling container of the finalconfiguration, and

that said transversal sealing apparatus includes a high-frequencyoscillator, controller of the same, and an inductor, which generates amagnetic field in said packaging material by receiving the output fromthe same, and is provided with a sealing quality control means, whichtransmits a control signal to said controller, based on a statisticalrelation between a plurality of effect factors affecting the quality ofsaid transversal sealing and the quality of said transversal sealing.

In the packaging filling apparatus of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the effect factor at least includes a moisturepercentage contained in the web-like packaging material, with or withouta laminated metal evaporated film, temperature of the fluid productfilled therein, characteristics of the sealing thermoplastic layer ofthe web-like packaging material, and thickness of the conductive layer.

In the preferred embodiment of the packaging filling apparatus accordingto the present invention, the effect factor at least includes an amountof energy output from the high-frequency oscillator and output impedancefrom the same.

The preferred embodiment of the packaging filling apparatus according tothe present invention receives a factor signal from a detector and/orinput means against said effect factor and a sealing quality controlmeans transmits a control signal to said controller.

The transversal sealing apparatus of the present invention, ischaracterized in that

a web-form packaging material having a laminated structure and aconductive layer, which is adjacent to a sealing property thermoplasticlayer, is longitudinally sealed to be formed into a tubular shape, afluid product is filled in said tube, a transversal sealing band isformed by performing a transversal sealing in the transverse directionof said tube, which is cut off into a separate first forming body insaid transversal sealing band of the first forming body, which iscontinuously connected and formed, and formed into a packaging andfilling container of the final configuration, and

that said transversal sealing apparatus includes a high-frequencyoscillator, controller of the same, and an inductor, which generates amagnetic field in said packaging material by receiving the output fromthe same, and is provided with a sealing quality control means totransmit a control signal to said controller, based on a statisticalrelation between a plurality of effect factors affecting the quality ofsaid transversal sealing and the quality of said transversal sealing.

In the preferred embodiment of the transversal sealing apparatus of thepresent invention, the effect factor at least includes a moisturepercentage contained in the web-like packaging material, temperature ofthe fluid product filled therein, characteristics of the sealingthermoplastic layer of the web-like packaging material, with or withouta laminated metal evaporated film, thickness of the conductive layer, anamount of energy output from the high-frequency oscillator and outputimpedance from the same, receives a factor signal against said effectfactor from a detector and/or input means and a sealing quality controlmeans transmits control signal to said controller.

In the packaging filling apparatus according to the present invention,the operator does not need to check the sealing condition on a regularbasis, and a suitable sealing quality can be obtained by an automaticcontrol. The packaging filling apparatus according to the presentinvention reduces the sealing check operation by the operator, requiresno troublesome operation according to the operational condition of thefilling apparatus, and no skillful labor by easily and automaticallygrasping the suitable conditions until the most suitable sealing isperformed. The packaging filling apparatus according to the presentinvention can cope with an abrupt change, so that the sealing quality issecured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While referring to the drawings, the details of embodiments of thepresent invention will be described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the transversalsealing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an outline perspective view of the packaging filling apparatusapplicable to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the transversal sealing apparatusof the packaging filling apparatus and the transversal sealing apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the outline of forming of thefinal configuration of the packaging container obtained by the packagingfilling apparatus according to the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The transversal sealing apparatus according to the present invention isinstalled in the downstream side of the packaging filling apparatusshown in FIG. 2. A laminated web-like packaging material 41 having asealing thermoplastic layer and adjacent conductive layer is prepared.As for the sealing thermoplastic layer, there are olefin series resinsuch as polystyrene and its copolymer. Regarding the conductive layer,for example, there are aluminum foil, steel thin film, metal evaporatedfilm, and the like. The transversal sealing apparatus according to thepresent invention performs transversal sealing by an induction heating.In the heating system, an eddy current is created in the conductivelayer such as aluminum foil, steel thin film, metal evaporated film togenerate heat. The heat heats the adjacent sealing propertythermoplastic layer to soften and melt the same. To press down themelted packaging material including the sealing property thermoplasticlayer contributes the sealing.

In the packaging filling apparatus shown by the example, a roll-typelaminated packaging material web 41 is rolled out to be conveyed in thepackaging filling apparatus by the roller. A strip tape is spliced to anedge of the packaging material web by a strip tape applicator 43. Thepackaging material web passes through a sterilization tank 44 to besterilized. The sterilizing treatment liquid attached on the surface ofthe packaging material is removed by a squeezing roller and air knife45.

The packing material is formed into a tubular shape by a forming roller46. An overlap is formed by superimposing both ends of the packagingmaterial, and sealing is performed by a longitudinal sealing element 42along the longitudinal direction of the tube at the overlap in thelongitudinal direction. Into the tube, liquid foods are filled from afilling pipe 47. While moving the tube downward by the lengthcorresponding to one packaging container, the tube is sandwiched by asealing jaw of the transversal sealing apparatus 48 and an opposing jaw.A transversal sealing is performed by the induction heating and thetransversal sealing band is formed. At the same time, it is continuouslyformed into a first forming body 49. The transversal sealing band of thefirst forming body is cut in the middle by a blade for cutting packagingmaterial (not shown) of a cutting apparatus (not shown) into a separatefirst forming body 49 to form the packaging filling container of a finalconfiguration.

In FIG. 4, an embodiment is shown in which the first forming body 49 isfolded into the final configuration. The first forming body 49 is sealedby two lateral (lateral line) sealing bands 23 and a longitudinalsealing band 26, and provided with side walls 22, 22 b and 22 a, whichare divided by a folding line. (Refer to FIG. 4 (a)) As shown in FIG. 4(b), along the folding line, the main body of the first forming body isformed into a rectangular solid form, and on the edge, transversalsealing bands 23 and flaps 24, 25 are formed to rise straight from thewall of the container. Transversal sealing bands 23 rise straight from abase surface 22 b and top surface 22 a, and flaps 24, 25 arecommunicated with the wall of the container integrally 11 through edgesides 25 a, 24 a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4( c), after the transversal sealing band 23 isfolded, the flaps are rotated around the edge line, the flap 24 of thetop side of the container is folded into the side wall 22, and the flap25 of the bottom side of the container being folded into the basesurface 22 b.

A paper container 14 filled with a fluid food in a rectangular solidform according to the folding embodiment shown in FIG. 4 (c) has afolded transversal sealing band 23, walls 22 and 22 a of the container,and the longitudinal sealing band 26, which runs from the top surface 22a through the back wall of the container to the bottom surface, andprovided with a flap 24, which is folded through the edge side 24 a.

In FIG. 3, where detailed partially sectional view of the transversalsealing apparatus 48 is shown, while being moved downward by the lengthcorresponding to one packaging container, a tubular packaging material41, which is filled with fluid product 35, is caught in two pairs offorming flaps 31 to be formed into a rough shape of a container, beingsandwiched by two pairs of sealing jaws 48 a and opposing jaws 48 b,forming a transversal sealing band by performing transversal sealing inthe transverse direction. In the sealing jaw 48 a, two inductors 48 care installed on the operational surface. The two inductors receive anoutput from the high-frequency oscillator to generate a magnetic fieldtowards the packaging material. According to the change of the magneticfield, an eddy current is created in the conductive layer such asaluminum foil, steel thin film, metal evaporated film to generate heat.The heat heats the adjacent sealing property thermoplastic layer tosoften and melt the same. By pressing and cooling down, two transversalsealing bands are formed. Next, the sealing band of the connected firstforming body is cut off in the middle by the knife 33 of the cuttingapparatus 32, having a cutting mechanism driven by a pressuring medium(oil pressure, air pressure) into a separate first forming body 49.

A rough block diagram of the transversal sealing apparatus according toan embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Thetransversal sealing apparatus 48 according to the embodiment includes ahigh-frequency oscillator 1, a controller 2 of the same, and an inductor48 c, which generates a magnetic field in the packaging material 41 byreceiving the output from the same. In the packaging material 41, twotransversal sealing bands 23 are formed. The transversal sealingapparatus 48 according to the embodiment is provided with a sealingquality control means 4, which transmits a control signal to thecontroller 2, based on a statistical relation between a plurality ofeffect factors affecting the quality of the transversal sealing and thequality of the transversal sealing, and an input apparatus 3, to whichthe operator inputs setting values of the transversal sealing (the widthof the lateral seal, the thickness of the seal, the seal strength andthe like).

The effect factors according to the preferred embodiment at leastincludes a moisture percentage contained in the web-like packagingmaterial, with or without a laminated metal evaporated film, temperatureof the fluid product filled therein, characteristics of the sealingthermoplastic layer of the web-like packaging material, thickness of theconductive layer, an amount of energy output from the high-frequencyoscillator and output impedance from the same. The statistical relationamong a plurality of effect factors affecting the quality of thetransversal sealing, the quality of the transversal sealing, and thisembodiment is, for example, a processing by such as a regressionanalysis. An estimation equation can be made by making the above effectfactor an explanatory variable and by taking the width of the sealing(as the quality of the transversal sealing) as an objective variable.

While referring to the rough block diagram of FIG. 1, operations will beillustrated. The transversal sealing apparatus 48 according to theembodiment receives effect factors A from a detector (not shown) duringor prior to the operation of the packaging filling apparatus, such as amoisture percentage contained in the web-like packaging material, withor without a laminated metal evaporated film, temperature of the fluidproduct filled therein, characteristics of the sealing thermoplasticlayer of the web-like packaging material, thickness of the conductivelayer. On the other hand, the apparatus receives effect factors B suchas an amount of energy output from the high-frequency oscillator andoutput impedance from the same. It is allowable that the operatormanually inputs by the input means instead of the detector. On receivingthese factor signals, the sealing quality control means 4 transmits acontrol signal C to the controller 2.

It is not included in the above-mentioned embodiment, however, it ispossible to monitor, if necessary, such as upper and lower limits ofsealing jaw oil pressure, the sharpness of the cutter knife, the flowrate of cooling water as monitoring items. In addition, the presentinvention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and it ispossible to variously deform based on the purpose of the presentinvention, which is not excluded from the scope of the presentinvention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

It is possible to produce the packaging container filled with liquidfoods such as milk and juice.

1. A packaging filling apparatus in which a web-form packaging materialhaving a laminated structure and a conductive layer adjacent to asealing property thermoplastic layer, is longitudinally sealed to beformed into a tubular shape and a fluid product is filled in the tube,the package filling apparatus comprising: a transversal sealingapparatus which performs, at longitudinally spaced apart locations onthe tube, transversal sealing in a transversal direction of the tube toform transversal sealing bands on the tube; a cutting apparatus whichcuts the tube in the transversal sealing bands to produce a firstforming body which is subsequently formed into a packaging fillingcontainer of a final configuration; the transversal sealing apparatuscomprising a high-frequency oscillator, a controller connected to thehigh-frequency oscillator, an inductor connected to the high-frequencyoscillator and receiving output from the high-frequency oscillator togenerate a magnetic field in the packaging material, and a sealingquality control means transmitting a control signal to the controllerbased on a statistical relation between a plurality of different effectfactors affecting quality of the transversal sealing and the quality ofthe transversal sealing, the controller controlling the high-frequencyoscillator based on the control signal from the sealing quality controlmeans; and the effect factors affecting the quality of the transversalsealing comprise effect factors A which include a moisture percentagecontained in the web-like packaging material, with or without alaminated metal evaporated film, temperature of the fluid product filledtherein, characteristics of the sealing thermoplastic layer of theweb-like packaging material and thickness of the conductive layer, aswell as effect factors B which include an amount of energy output fromthe high-frequency oscillator and output impedance from thehigh-frequency oscillator.
 2. The packaging filling apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising a detector and/or input means connectedto the transversal sealing apparatus for providing the plurality ofdifferent effect factors.
 3. A transversal sealing apparatus for apackaging filling apparatus in which a web-form packaging materialhaving a laminated structure and a conductive layer adjacent to asealing property thermoplastic layer is longitudinally sealed to beformed into a tubular shape, and a fluid product is filled in the tube,the transversal sealing apparatus comprising: a high-frequencyoscillator; an inductor connected to the high-frequency oscillator andreceiving output from the high-frequency oscillator to generate amagnetic field in the packaging material to perform transversal sealingof the tube producing a transverse sealing band in the tube; acontroller connected to the high-frequency oscillator; and sealingquality control means connected to the controller to transmit a controlsignal to the controller based on a statistical relation between aplurality of different effect factors affecting quality of thetransversal sealing and the quality of the transversal sealing, thecontroller controlling the high-frequency oscillator based on thecontrol signal from the sealing quality control means; and the effectfactors affecting the quality of the transversal sealing comprise effectfactors A which include a moisture percentage contained in the web-likepackaging material, with or without a laminated metal evaporated film.temperature of the fluid product filled therein, characteristics of thesealing thermoplastic layer of the web-like packaging material andthickness of the conductive layer. as well as effect factors B whichinclude an amount of energy output from the high-frequency oscillatorand output impedance from the high-frequency oscillator.
 4. Thetransversal sealing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising adetector and/or input means connected to the transversal sealingapparatus for providing the plurality of different effect factors.